NIA Minister with responsibility for water resources in a broadcast to the general public on Monday explained the reasons behind recent water shortage, on the island of Nevis.
Liburd said the water problem has persisted longer than usual causing a discomfort to a wide cross section of consumers.
Liburd informed that his Ministry is involved in returning the situation to normalcy in the quickest turnaround time.
Liburd said that the failure of a pump had aggravated the situation resulting in the removal of the said pump from the well, thus creating, the need to ration water to consumers.
“The situation developed as a result of a failure of a submersible pump that brought water from the B Maden’s Height well to the Water Department’s System. This failure occurred on Sunday 25th September. Several attempts were made to troubleshoot the problem and restart this pump, all such efforts failed and the pump had to eventually be pulled from the well. The Nevis Water Department made every effort to compensate for the loss of this well from the system including putting in place a water rationing schedule for most of the Northern side of the Island and transferring water from the Southern system to bolster the supply in the North. On Saturday 8th October, the Nevis’ Water Department working along with Bead installed a submersible pump into the well at Maden’s Height. This well will serve as a temporary fix until a pump capable of doing the full flow from the well could be flown in by Bead. The ministry was informed by Bead that a replacement pump has been ordered and is being manufactured, they expect o take delivery of this pump within the next two weeks.”